Chapter 1

After Seraphina Monroe accepted my family's heirloom jade bracelet, I planned a grand proposal for her during her birthday banquet the very next day.

But she showed up wearing that bracelet while clinging to another man's arm.

She let out a delighted cry when she saw the decorations I had spent weeks setting up.

"Dominic, how did you know I was going to propose? You even had the whole place decorated for me!"

Then, she turned around and dropped to one knee before the man.

"Will you marry me?" she asked, her eyes shining with a love I had never seen directed at me.

The guests turned to look at me with pity, but I only forced a smile and offered my congratulations.

This woman, whom I had loved for eight long years, was no longer worth my heart.

1.

Watching the two of them kiss passionately on stage, I pulled out my phone and called my mother.

"Mom, I agree to come home for those blind dates you mentioned."

"You took the family heirloom and now you want to come home for dates?" my mother grumbled over the phone.

Just two days ago, I had rushed home overnight to beg her for that bracelet to give to Seraphina.

The moment she accepted it, my heart had been overflowing with joy.

I never imagined it would end like this today.

I lowered my eyes, my voice quiet as I apologized.

"I was wrong before. I'll make sure to get the bracelet back."

Only then did my mother stop lecturing me.

"I'll be back as soon as I wrap things up here."

Before I could finish, Seraphina walked over, her arm still linked with her new fiancé's.

"Caleb, I really love the venue you set up. Thank you."

I murmured a few quick words to my mother and hung up the phone.

"I'm glad you like it," I said.

I looked at the woman I had loved for eight years with a strange sense of calm.

"Where did you say you were going just now?" Seraphina asked suddenly.

"My aunt needs me back home for something," I lied, making up a random excuse.

Seraphina just nodded and then beamed at me.

"Caleb, I didn't have a chance to introduce you properly. This is my boyfriend, Dominic King."

Dominic corrected her with a smug grin, "Fiancé now."

Seraphina leaned into his chest, looking like the happiest woman alive.

I let out a bitter, silent laugh, gave them a polite nod, and found an excuse to leave the party early.

On the way home, I realized the heirloom was still on her wrist.

I messaged my best friend, Jax, asking him to help me get it back.

But as soon as I stepped through my front door, Jax called me.

"Caleb, Seraphina doesn't believe you actually want the bracelet back."

"She said if you want it, you have to come and get it yourself."

I froze, stunned by her audacity.

Jax continued to rant on the other end of the line.

"That woman is a piece of work. She kept you on a leash for years while planning to propose to another man."

All my friends knew how much I adored Seraphina.

They all thought I would eventually win her over with my persistence.

Nobody expected her to pull a stunt like this.

"Do you want to go grab a drink?" I asked, cutting Jax off.

He immediately gave me the name of a restaurant and told me everyone was already there.

But when I pushed open the door to the private lounge, the first thing I saw was Seraphina and Dominic locked in a heated kiss.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

One of Seraphina's friends saw me and spoke up with a sneer.

"Isn't that Caleb Sterling? Did you follow Seraphina's scent all the way here again?"

Before I could speak, Jax snapped back at her, "I was the one who invited him..."

I reached out and pulled my fuming friend away.

We sat down in a corner, and Jax whispered to me.

"I don't know who leaked our location, but she showed up with that guy and her crew right after I called you."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Right then, my landlord sent a message asking if I wanted to renew my lease.

"No, I'll be moving out soon," I replied.

My lease was up in a week.

That would be just enough time to settle everything.

As I was planning my next steps, someone called my name.

"Caleb, Truth or Dare?"

I snapped back to reality and saw the group playing.

The neck of the wine bottle was pointing directly at me.

I closed my eyes for a moment. "Truth."

Everyone looked at me as if they already knew what was coming.

In the past, I would always use this game as a chance to confess my feelings to Seraphina.

The girl sitting next to Seraphina gave me a meaningful look.

"Caleb, is there someone in this room that you love?"

I didn't even hesitate. "No."

The entire room went silent.